Three men were mowed down by a car and killed while protecting their community from looters, it was claimed.

The trio - including two brothers - were on guard protecting shops at 1am today in the Winson Green area of Birmingham when the car was driven at them, a witness said.

Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene and the third died this morning in City Hospital.

Speaking to the media outside the hospital, which is less than a mile from crime scene, Mohammed Shakiel said the car sped off after striking the men at up to 50mph.

The victims, aged between 20 and 31, were part of a group of men gathered to protect shops used by all sections of the community, Mr Shakiel said.

The 34-year-old carpenter said: "We got a call that there had been a car that had been set alight and a group of youths had moved further up the road.

"They put the fire out but there were still yobs on the street - they had no agenda other than simple stealing."

He added that several cars then drove past the group on guard, and the occupants shouted abuse before one vehicle returned and mounted the pavement at "tremendous speed" and hit the men, throwing them into the air.

Mr Shakiel said of the victims, who have not yet been named: "They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police.

"They weren't standing outside a mosque, a temple, a synagogue or a church - they were standing outside shops where everybody goes.

"They were protecting the community as a whole."

West Midlands Police launched a murder inquiry, confirmed they had arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder and recovered a car.

The force said it was understood that the three victims were on foot in Dudley Road when the incident occurred.

Another witness, Kabir Khan Isakhel, said: "People came out of prayers (at a local mosque) and they were protecting the area.

"My friends were targeted - they were standing on the side of the road and the car just came and ran them over."

Another friend of the victims, who declined to give his name, said one of the men ran a local car wash, while another worked as a mechanic.

Paramedics said when they attended the victims they were met by scores of bystanders.

"The incident took place close to the Jet filling station on Dudley Road in Winson Green at approximately 1.15am," a West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said.

"Three ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and an incident support officer was sent to the scene.

"When crews arrived, they found around 80 people at the scene with resuscitation ongoing on three men.

"Crews used their advanced life support skills while police officers provided support."

A police spokesman said forensics experts will examine the vehicle and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, issued a statement urging rioters to stop.

He said: "With my fellow citizens, I am shocked and greatly saddened by the destruction and looting in Birmingham's city centre and in Handsworth.

"I ask the Catholic community to pray, especially for all those whose livelihood or property has been damaged.

"We also pray for a strengthening of family values and guidance, and for a change of heart among those involved."

The father of one of the victims, 21-year-old Haroon Jahan, told reporters how he tried to revive his son after he was knocked down.

Tariq Jahan, who lives about 40 yards from the scene of the incident, told BBC Radio 5 live: "All the street were out and basically he was looking out for the whole community.

"I didn't see it (the fatal incident) with my own eyes. I was round the corner... I heard the car coming at high speed.

"Then we heard the bang and I heard the commotion with the people. I ran towards the commotion and the first guy I found was someone I didn't know.

"I started giving him CPR until somebody pointed out that the guy behind me was my son on the floor.

"Then I swapped positions and started giving him CPR."

Asked to describe his son, who was a keen amateur boxer, Mr Jahan said: "He was a good lad. He was very, very intelligent, very smart.

The grieving father also appealed for there to be no revenge for his son's death and for the law to be allowed to take its course.

"Tensions are already high in the area. It's already bad enough what we are seeing on the streets now without other people taking the law into their own hands," he said.

Clutching a school photograph of his son, Mr Jahan told reporters gathered outside his home that the mechanic was a popular figure in the local community.

Mr Jahan, who has two other children, said: "He was trying to help his community and he has been killed.

"He was a very well-liked kid - I can't describe to anybody what it feels like to lose a son.

"He was the youngest, and anything I ever wanted done, I would always ask Haroon to sort it out for me."

Saying that "everybody loved him", Mr Jahan said people would forget once the riots had ended.

"A day from now, maybe two days from now, the whole world will forget and nobody will care."

He added that he did not blame anyone and it was his son's fate.

"I don't blame the Government, I don't blame the police, I don't blame nobody," he said.

"I'm a Muslim, I believe in divine fate and destiny, and it was his destiny and his fate, and now he's gone.

"And may Allah forgive him and bless him."

West Midlands Police chief constable Chris Sims called for calm from members of all communities after confirming that his force has made 303 arrests over the past two nights.

The police chief told a news conference that his officers' response to those stealing from and damaging shops had been and would remain robust.

Giving details of the incident in Winson Green which claimed three lives, Mr Sims said: "Shortly after one o'clock, a group of males has been gathered near to a petrol station on the Dudley Road.

"We believe that they were predominantly Asian males.

"At some point, and in circumstances that as yet I can't fully explain, a vehicle has been driven into that group of males, which tragically has led to three of those men losing their lives.

"Again, those victims come from the Asian Muslim community of Birmingham."

Referring to the 32-year-old man who is in police custody, Mr Sims added: "He has been arrested for murder because the information that we have at the moment would support the idea that the car was deliberately driven.

"You will understand that that is now a complicated investigation that has begun and will continue until we get to the full truth of exactly what has gone on."

Urging everyone in the West Midlands to act calmly, the officer said: "Like everyone else in Birmingham, my concern now will be that that single incident doesn't lead to a much wider and more general level of distrust, and even worse, violence, between different communities.

"At these difficult times, people across all our communities must trust the police to protect them.

"They must act with a sense of cool calculation because these are difficult times.

"If we are calm, I'm absolutely confident that the people of the West Midlands can get through this ... and that we can rebuild trust between communities."

Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has information in connection with the incident is urged to contact West Midlands Police on 0345 113 5000.